Altai is for beginners or to the Karakol lakes light. Horse riding tour

The following are issued for the equestrian route:

• everything you need to equip a horse;
• everything you need for a group is campfire equipment;
• waterproof UGC raincoats (rubberized raincoats);
• bags-archimacs, in which things and products are transported;
• tents;
• floor mats;
• dishes;
• first aid kit for first aid (located at the instructor of the group);
• a sleeping bag.

Yes, we will also provide a sleeping bag. However, it would be better if you take your own or ask a friend, because a sleeping bag is still a thing for individual use. You will definitely feel more comfortable in your personal sleeping bag.

By train or plane to Novosibirsk/Barnaul/Gorno-Altayskaya and further by bus (Novosibirsk/Barnaul/ Gorno-Altaysk – Chemal) to the settlement of Elekmonar (7 km before reaching the village of Chemal).

Aircraft:

• the cost of Moscow – Barnaul – Moscow is ~ 16,000 rubles.
• the cost of Moscow – Novosibirsk – Moscow is ~ 12,000 rubles.
• the cost of Moscow – Gorno-Altaysk – Moscow is ~ 17,000 rubles.

Travel time ~ 4 hours and 20 minutes.

Train: the cost of Moscow – Barnaul – Moscow is ~ 6,000 rubles.

Travel time is 56 hours.

Bus:

• Novosibirsk – Chemal (~1200 p.), 500 km, travel time ~ 9 hours;
• Barnaul – Chemal (~900 rubles.), 350 km, travel time ~ 6 hours;

We recommend purchasing an electronic bus ticket in advance.

If unforeseen circumstances occur (flight delay, bus breakdown on the road, late arrival for a scheduled flight) – call the organizer.

Via Gorno-Altaysk:

• Upon arrival in Gorno-Altaysk, call the organizer and within 5 minutes you will be met at the airport entrance.
• An hour later we arrive at the guest house in Elekmonar village, from where our journey will begin.

Via Barnaul (option 1 – without transfers):

• You can get to Barnaul by air or rail.
• From the airport, take a minibus to the bus station. The railway station is located on the same square as the bus station.
• Purchase a bus / minibus ticket Barnaul – Chemal.
• You drive ~ 4.5 hours and find yourself in the village of Maima, which borders the city of Gorno-Altaisk.
• Call the organizer and tell them the name of the locality you are passing through.
• After driving for another 1-1.5 hours, inform the driver that you need to get off AT THE FIRST STOP, THE VILLAGE OF ELEKMONAR.
• Get off the bus and call the organizer. You will be met within 5 minutes.

Through Barnaul (option 2 is a road with transfers, but buses run more often):

• You can get to Barnaul by air or by rail.
• From the airport, take a minibus to the bus station. The railway station is located on the same square as the bus station.
• Purchase a bus / minibus ticket Barnaul – Gorno-Altaysk (~ 650 rubles).
• At the train station In Gorno-Altaysk, buy a bus ticket / take a taxi / take a minibus to the village of Chemal (~ 350 rubles).
• As soon as you leave the bus station, call the organizer.
• Call the organizer and tell them the name of the locality you are passing through.
• An hour later, you inform the driver that you need to get off AT THE FIRST STOP, THE VILLAGE OF ELEKMONAR.
• Get off the bus and call the organizer. You will be met within 5 minutes.

Via Novosibirsk (option 1 – without transfers).

• You can get to Novosibirsk by air or rail.
• From the airport / railway station – by minibus to the bus station.
• Purchase a Novosibirsk – Chemal bus ticket.
• You drive ~ 6 hours and find yourself in the village of Maima, which borders the city of Gorno-Altaisk.
• Call the organizer and tell them the name of the locality you are passing through.
• After driving for another 1-1.5 hours, inform the driver that you need to get off AT THE FIRST STOP, THE VILLAGE OF ELEKMONAR.
• Get off the bus and call the organizer. You will be met within 5 minutes.

On the way back, we answer the question "Is it possible to take a flight at 9.30 am on the last day, perhaps go down from the base on your own and take a taxi to the airport"
Answer: there is no such possibility. Because on the last day, the group is taken away from the equestrian base by GAZ 66 off-road and the group arrives only at 9 a.m. in the village of Elekmonar.
Summary: it is necessary to choose alternative ways to get there, for example, through Novosibirsk or the next morning by booking an additional overnight stay at the base.

It is worth remembering that a horse riding tour is in any case an event of increased complexity and is hardly comparable, or rather, completely incomparable with a beach holiday on the coast. Therefore, a certain physical training for a potential participant of an equestrian tour, of course, must be present.

However, do not think that if you do not have riding experience, you will not be able to cope with the tour. Not at all. It's just going to be more difficult and you have to be ready for it.

It is believed that until the end of June there is a danger of a tick bite, therefore, it is advisable for every tourist to get vaccinated in advance. There are vaccination centers in every city. There is an urgent vaccine – at least 2 weeks before departure and a simple one – 1 injection per month and 1 more strengthening in 2 weeks.

Those who did not have time to get vaccinated can purchase the preventive drug recommended by the SES "Yodantipirin" and start taking it according to the instructions three days before coming to us.

We also note that there are no ticks in the highlands, where the main part of the route passes. It is necessary to protect yourself from being bitten only on the first and last day of the hike.

Air and railway tickets are not included in the price of the tour. You can purchase them yourself or contact us for help.

The weather conditions in the areas of the routes are very diverse. The air temperature in summer ranges from +10 to +35 per day and from +5 to +15 With the night. At the end of June and at the end of August, in high-altitude areas, the temperature may drop to 0 degrees at night.

Snow or hail may fall on the pass. Frequent and rapid changes in weather conditions are possible. Due to this factor, study the recommended list of things in detail and take a warm sleeping bag with you.

During the route, you need to listen, and at some points unquestioningly follow the recommendations of the instructor / groom, because your safety depends on it, and in particular:

• warn the instructor/groom about your absence from the parking lot (if you are going to go for a walk, take pictures, etc.) - for what time, where, in which direction are you going;
• be sure to follow the instructions of the instructor / groom during the horse crossing;
• do not be offended / angry at the instructor / groom when he gives objective recommendations;
• The groom/instructor is your friend and assistant, take care of him.

It is quite easy to control a horse when hiking in mountainous terrain. In a column, horses move one after another independently, this is a familiar thing for them, they know the trails well, and the task of the rider is only:

• Keep your distance (not too far and not too close);
• make sure not to pass too close to tree trunks and under low branches;
• do not constantly eat grass by pulling and lifting the horse's head with a rein;
• Don't drive through the bushes;
• do not enter dangerous places (climb rocks, steep slopes, deep places of rivers);
• don't let them jump off the rocks.

All this is quite easy to do, having even the smallest experience of "riding" and thanks to the instruction at the beginning of the hike and under the strict supervision of our instructors.

Also, I want to note that the horses themselves are smart enough not to do big stupid things. You just need to control sometimes so that the horse goes like everyone else.

The main points that should be performed / not performed (for more information on the briefing):

1. You don't have to approach the horse from behind – our horses are calm, but they can still get scared and kick.
2. A horse is a big and powerful animal, make sure that it does not accidentally step on your foot.
3. Do not let go of the horse when stopping. She must be tied up or asked to hold a friend.
4. Archimacs are bags that attach to the saddle, they contain your belongings and groceries. Bags (archimacs) should be packed evenly by weight – for balance, so that during the transition one does not outweigh the other. Soft things in bags are placed on the inside – so that it is not hard on the horse's back.
5. A chembur is a rope designed to tie a horse to a stop and adjust it during the transition. If you understand that you are lagging behind – the horse needs to be adjusted, if it does not work, then you can use a drill – this is normal, the horse will not be hurt. 
6. The distance between the riders is 2-3 m, it is advisable not to lag behind and, accordingly, not to catch up, resting on the horse in front, i.e. keep a distance. This will save both the horse's strength (each creature must adhere to a certain pace and load during physical exertion) and time, especially precious during long transitions.
7. In the parking lot, the first thing to do is tie the horse, relax all the ties, take off the bags (archimacs), then the saddle and everything else, call the instructor to check everything and confuse the horse. Never let the horse go untangled, otherwise the horse runs home, and the tourist walks the rest of the time himself with his bags.
8. During the transition, if possible or by feeling, monitor and monitor whether the girths (harnesses that fix the saddle on the horse) have loosened.
9. Know what your horse's ammunition looks like. Of course, you can't remember everything at once, but at least remember the place where you put the ammunition after you unsaddled it.
10. When it rains or in the evening when dew falls, the ammunition must be covered with a raincoat. Dry ammunition is the health of the horse.
11. To know and learn how to properly saddle and unsaddle a horse.
12. Monitor the condition of the horse – legs (lameness), back (bumps, abrasions). If you see something, tell the instructor.
13. A horse is the best friend, companion and brother during a hike. It is necessary to establish contact in it so that you trust each other and have mutual understanding, talk to the horse, praise, stroke, etc.

Within the village, Elekmonar catches Beeline, Megafon and MTS, respectively, take the sim of these operators with you.

There is no communication in the mountains (only emergency), so warn your relatives that you will be able to call only on the day of arrival and on the day of departure.

Canned food:

• pork stew;
• beef stew;
• sprat in tomato sauce;
• pink salmon;
• Sayra;
• sprats.

To rupa:

• oatmeal;
• semolina;
• rice;
• buckwheat;
• millet;
• perlovka;
• pasta;
• corn.

PINIER:

• cocoa;
• tea;
• instant coffee;
• jelly;
• compote.

Sweet:

• cream;
• condensed milk;
• jam;
• chocolate;
• toffee;
• gingerbreads;
• waffles;
• boiled condensed milk;
• cocoa.

Vegetables/fruits (first 4-5 days):

• cucumbers;
• tomatoes;
• apples;
• oranges;
• cabbage;
• potato;
• beet;
• onion;
• carrot;
• garlic.

The rest:

• cheese;
• smoked/semi-smoked sausage;
• processed cheese;
• sausage cheese;
• croutons;
• cream;
• dried apricots/prunes/ pineapple;
• bread.

And many more little things! From these simple products, you can cook real works of culinary hiking art!

Yes, the maximum permissible weight of a tourist is 100 kg.

All things are repacked in archimacs, and suitcases and backpacks remain in a special storage room for things until the time of return from the route.